Lexia to Perplexia

Tags: 
Description (in English): 

Author description: Lexia to Perplexia is a deconstructive/grammatological examination of the "delivery machine." The text of the work falls into the gaps between theory and fiction. The work makes wide use of DHTML and JavaScript. At times its interactive features override the source text, leading to a fragmentary reading experience. In essence, the text does what it says: in that, certain theoretical attributes are not displayed as text but are incorporated into the functionality of the work. Additionally, Lexia to Perplexia explores new terms for the processes and phenomena of attachment. Terms such as "metastrophe" and "intertimacy" work as sparks within the piece and are meant to inspire further thought and exploration. There is also a play between the rigorous and the frivolous in this "exe.termination of terms." The Lexia to Perplexia interface is designed as a diagrammatic metaphor, emphasizing the local (user) and remote (server) poles of network attachment while exploring the "intertimate" hidden spaces of the process.

(Source: Author's description from Electronic LIterature Collection, Volume 1)

I ♥ E-Poetry entry: 
Technical notes: 

Requires Netscape or Internet Explorer (may not function correctly in all current browsers).

Critical writing that references this work:

Title Author Year
"Terminal Hopscotch": Navigating Networked Space in Talan Memmott's Lexia to Perplexia Lisa Swanstrom 2011
A New Media Reading Strategy Cheryl E. Ball 2005
An Emerging Canon? A Preliminary Analysis of All References to Creative Works in Critical Writing Documented in the ELMCIP Electronic Literature Knowledge Base Scott Rettberg 2013
Avatars of Story Marie-Laure Ryan 2009
Beyond Taxonomy: Digital Poetics and the Problem of Reading Talan Memmott 2006
Born Digital Stephanie Strickland 2009
Born Digital: Writing Poetry in the Age of New Media Maria Engberg 2007
Comedies of Separation: Toward a Theory of the Ludic Book Brian Kim Stefans 2011
Creating Screen-Based Multiple State Environments: Investigating Systems of Confutation Donna Leishman 2004
Cyborg Tactics and Perilous Hermeneutics in Lexia to Perplexia Shifts in materiality across space. Daniel Carter 2010
Dada Redux: Elements of Dadaist Practice in Contemporary Electronic Literature Scott Rettberg 2008
Destination Unknown: Experiments in the Network Novel Scott Rettberg 2003
Developing an Identity for the Field of Electronic Literature: Reflections on the Electronic Literature Organization Archives Scott Rettberg 2012
Digital Rhetoric and Poetics: Signifying Strategies in Electronic Literature Talan Memmott 2011
Electronic Literature Scott Rettberg 2018
Electronic Literature Publishing and Distribution in Europe Markku Eskelinen, Giovanna Di Rosario 2012
Electronic Literature: New Horizons for the Literary N. Katherine Hayles 2010
Exploiting Kairos in Electronic Literature: A Rhetorical Analysis Cheri Crenshaw 2008
From Synesthesias to Multimedia: How to Talk about New Media Narrative Daniel Punday 2011
Genre Trouble: Narrativism and the Art of Simulation Espen Aarseth 2004
Screen shots: 
The permanent URL of this page: 
Record posted by: 
Patricia Tomaszek